Innovation in Life Science Project

Innovation in Life Science Project

“Innovation in life science will be the major driver of meeting four major societal challenges: challenges of

climate, challenges of food, challenges of energy, and challenges of health.” Phillip A. Sharp, MIT, Co-chair, NRC Committee, A New Biology for the 21st Century

This is your chance to ask your own question about how scientists are working to meet ONE of the four

challenges, and then spend 4-7 hours finding answers to your question using credible sources and preparing a

BRIEF oral presentation for the class.

Examples of questions:

How can biomimicry help architects design buildings that use less energy?

How are stem cells being used to treat illnesses?

How are genetically-modified foods being used to help meet world food insecurity?

Learn about a NEW technique/discovery/approach/invention, etc. related to the challenge – this is the

innovation part!!! Don’t just describe a disease or a problem, but focus on what is currently being done to

address the problem/issue.

Be particular about the websites and/or magazines that you choose to learn information from – always ask

yourself: What is the motivation of the website’s creator? Are they selling something? Is it an academic

institution? Is it a government website? Don’t take anything at face value – snoop around before you settle in…

Doing a search through academic databases is a MUCH better way to find reputable sources than simply

googling!! If you cannot identify the organization or author, and have no way to verify the credibility of the

information, I suggest that you DON’T use it.

It is important that you cite each reference correctly – Do not just provide the link!

This helpful website http://www.easybib.com/reference/guide/apa/general has examples for all types of

sources. I suggest that you use the APA format.

1. Prepare 6 slide deck (Powerpoint, Google slides, Canva, Prezi, etc.) of your findings.

a. Slide #1: Title of your presentation and your name

b. Slide #2: What question did you ask, and how does this relate to one of the four challenges: health,

energy, food, or climate? Innovation in Life Science Project

c. Slide #3: The innovation that you learned about (include at least one helpful image)

d. Slide #4: Use details to further describe HOW the innovation functions, its structure (what it is made

from, how it is produced, the cost, etc) and HOW it addresses the challenge. Provide any other important

fact we should know about the INNOVATION.

e. Slide #5: Connect the innovation that you learned about to a topic discussed in the course or one of the

core concepts of the course. WHY should we care? HOW does this relate to us?

f. Slide #6: List your four sources (you will not show or talk about this slide, so the font can be small.) For

each source, identify the author (or organization) and explain why you think the source is credible. Use

the examples for citing your sources.

2. Submit your slides to Canvas before due date

3. Present your slides on presentation day – you have only 2-3 minutes to present your slides.

Biology Innovation Project Name____________________ Topic_______________________

Area (each worth up to 20 points)

10 points

12 points

14 points

16 points

20 points

Points earned

Neatness, grammar, and spelling

Numerous errors, not typed,

Numerous errors Some errors Few errors No errors, neat, and very creative!

Topic related to one of the 4 major challenges and related to BIO 101

No relationship, no innovation

Weak relationship to either challenges OR BIO 101, Innovation not relevant

Good relationship to challenges OR BIO 101, Innovation unclear

Good relationship to both challenges & BIO 101, Innovation mentioned

Very strong relationship to both challenges & BIO course material, innovation clearly described

Quality and quantity of sources/ references

Poor sources; 1 source

Poor sources; 1-2 sources, No evidence of credibility

Good sources; 1-2 sources. Little evidence of credibility

Good sources; 3 sources, Some evidence of credibility

Excellent sources; 4 or more sources, credibility explained

Biological content (ideas, vocabulary)

Many biological errors, no connection to class

Some biological errors, minimal connection to class

Minimal bio knowledge, some connection to class

Good use of biological knowledge, good connection to class

Excellent use of biological knowledge, excellent connection to class

In-class presentation

No slides, No presentation

Slides poorly done, Reading slides much of the time

Slides and summary okay, summary MUCH too long or too short. Some reading of slides

Slides well done, good summary, but too long or too short, read slides occasionally

Slide very well done with appropriate images, excellent summary, presentation good length, No reading of slides

• What question did you ask and how does this relate to one of the four challenges: health, energy  food or climate?,

• What is the innovation that you learned about?,

• How does the innovation function what is it made from, how is it produced what is the cost and how does it address the challenge?,

• How does the innovation connect to a topic discussed in the course or one of the core concepts?,

• What sources did you use, who created them, and why are they credible?,